Courier Friends to Follow

Soldier dies during routine training

Ranger was on routine-proficiency parachute jump

Military authorities are investigating the death of a Hunter Army Airfield soldier who was killed during routine training Thursday afternoon on Fort Stewart.

According to Lt. Col. Brian DeSantis, public information officer for the 75th Ranger Regiment base at HAAF in Savannah, the soldier, who has not been identified and is assigned to 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, was on a routine-proficiency parachute jump at the Taylors Creek drop zone on Fort Stewart. DeSantis said the soldier’s parachute did operate properly when he exited the aircraft, but he was unresponsive when he landed on the drop zone.

Medical personnel and unit members performed CPR on the soldier until emergency-medical personal from Winn Army Community Hospital arrived and took over. The soldier was pronounced dead at 4:51 p.m. DeSantis said the cause of death is unknown until an autopsy can be performed.